Nerd and the Marine (26 page)

Ben noticed and got all
eight of us out of the water by simply picking me and Treeny up.
When he saw we were tied together he tore into my brothers, thank
goodness. By the time he got there, Dory’s husband had already
figured out something was wrong. And he’d started down to the lake
to pull her out, but I’ve no doubt he intended to leave the rest of
us.

Ben promptly cut through
our bonds all the while checking us over. The guys had no idea how
closely they came to killing three of us. Treeny’s a doctor, so she
checked my bruise. Hers is nearly as bad as mine. Don’t worry, we
totally got them back, but I’m sore and currently writing you this
e-mail standing at my kitchen counter.

Like I said, we made them
pay for their actions. When they returned from fishing they found
all the cabins locked and that we took the kids into town for
pizza. Leaving the nitwits to fend for themselves. (We also took
all the spare keys.) Again, Ben was here, so he made short work of
breaking into the cabins, and starting a fish fry, but he made them
wait a long time. We were very pleased when they all apologized for
nearly killing Dory, Treeny, and me. To say nothing of giving
Laurie a heart attack.

Ben made them all promise
that they would not bind us again, especially not together, and
toss us into the lake. They’re allowed to throw us in, just not
attached to each other. He kept muttering about geniuses with
absolutely no common sense. I get the giggles every time I think of
it, because my brothers still have no clue. ☺

My grandparents were there
however, but had taken my purse into my cottage, so they didn’t
know what had happened until they heard Ben ripping the boys apart.
Then Granddad entered the action, and Ben wisely left the floor to
him. (Remember, grandparents trump all.) It’s uncanny to see the
two of them together. Except for skin tone, they’re the same
person. Ben, of all the grandchildren, looks most like Granddad.
I’ve probably told you that before.

Did Ben say anything about
Treeny when he came to visit? He wouldn’t tell me much about your
visit, except that he likes you. I wouldn't mind hearing more about
your visit.

Anyway, since you’ll be
buying my brothers, all seven of them, I figure you’ll get to know
them well enough.

Gotta go, my computer
battery is nearly dead.

Yours,

Lainy

Mitch could hear her exasperation and
frustration, but also her love for her brothers. Perhaps there was
still hope for him. He would never do anything to scare the girls
like that. Did that mean the statute of limitations wouldn’t be a
problem? Provided they had one. If her brothers could do something
so wrong and still be loved, then he should be golden.

He hoped.

He clicked over to Ben’s e-mail
address which he’d saved and started an e-mail.

To:
[email protected]

From:
[email protected]

Subject: I owe you
one

Hey Ben,

Just got in and received
an e-mail from Lainy. She told me about the little disaster at the
lake, due to her brothers.

I owe you one.

Lainy mentioned something
briefly that I found fascinating? Did you hear that she and Treeny
checked each other’s bottoms? Apparently they both got bruised
there. I doubt it’s appropriate to ask her, but did you hear about
this? Are they okay? To hit so hard they had to check each other -
that’s interesting.

Thanks,

Mitch

He sent the e-mail to his outbox, and
then started a reply to Lainy. Thankful again for Ben. He knew
there’d been a good reason why he’d liked the man.

To:
[email protected]

From:
[email protected]

Subject: Glad you’re
alive

Hello Lainy,

I’m glad you’re alive and
thankful all you’ve got is a sore bottom. I’m sure it could have
been worse. Did Bentley not toss any of the men in the lake then?
You sounded exasperated with your brothers. Since Ben and your
grandfather already chewed them out, I won't bother.

You said something about
Ben muttering about them being geniuses? I know Ed is, because I’ve
used and trusted many of his inventions, but what about the other
guys? And Max, from what you’ve said of him, I can’t imagine he was
in on this?

At least Ben got there in
time, but it sounds like Dory’s husband saw a problem and would
have gotten you out, too. Would he have felt as free to yell
though? Since he only married into the family and isn’t related
through blood?

I’m glad you’re all right.
Except for your bottom. I’m feeling that way, too, so I
do understand. Missing you.

Yours,

Mitch

P.S. I’ll probably watch
the other two videos. Your brother Ed, although apparently lacking
common sense, is a genius.

P.S.S. I hope when you
look in the mirror, you see the beautiful face I see. I hope you
know you’re worthy of love. And a relationship like your family all
have
.

Mitch plugged his computer back in and
sent his messages before disconnecting again and returning to his
cot. He glanced at Al’s bed next to his and, since it contained
several days worth of sand, concluded he wasn’t around.

Tugging the DVD stash from
his footlocker, he selected Part I of
Lainy Can Fix Anything
.

Propping the laptop on his midsection
proved the least painful option and he watched as the scene
unfolded. Lainy and several women sat around a picnic table
talking. He couldn’t quite hear what they said. He saw they all had
mugs in front of them and a plate of cookies.

Kids kept running up and swiping the
cookies. The ladies didn’t seem as interested in them. Mitch dug
his stash out and selected a few. As the camera swung a bit, he
noticed a couple off to the side. The man looked like Ben and the
woman was small with red gold hair, they appeared to be deep in a
discussion. The camera swung back to the occupants of the picnic
table. He heard a male voice mutter, “There we go,” and suddenly he
could hear the women.

“
So, do you think Treeny’ll
stay in the area, Rachel?” one of the ladies asked, as the entire
table glanced in the direction of the couple he had viewed. Mitch
didn’t recognize the speaker per se. Except that she looked like
Lainy’s mother. Had to be a grandmother or aunt.

“
I’ve wondered that, too,”
Lainy’s Aunt Emma said, turning to look at Will’s wife.

“
I don’t really know. She
hasn’t said anything about her plans, actually. I don’t know if
she’s thought that far ahead.” Rachel’s eyes darted to the woman
speaking to Ben.

“
She has a job.” Lainy
reached for something at her grandmother’s elbow. A
brownie.

Which got Mitch to thinking about his
stash. Rummaging around under his cot, he located his container and
sampled one with her.

“
Yes, that’s true. But I’m
sure she can go anywhere,” Lainy’s mother said, also snagging a
brownie.

“
I wonder if Ben will play
a part in her decision?”

All of the women exchanged glances and
he saw several of them frown before the woman who’d been speaking
to Ben joined them at the table. He noticed she sat rather
gingerly. Lainy grimaced with her and Mitch wondered if this video
was taped right after both women had been dunked in the lake and
come afoul on those rocks.

“
Where’s Ben,
dear?”

Treeny’s mouth firmed. “His beeper
when off, and he said he had to leave.” Mitch gathered their
conversation hadn’t gone quite like she’d hoped. Or had been cut
short.

“
That’s the life of a Navy
SEAL.” One of the other women quipped and the others nodded.
Treeny’s expression turned even grimmer.

Mitch noticed Lainy dart a quick look
at Treeny. She must have thought the other woman needed some space
because she made a production out of the half eaten brownie in her
hand. “Mom, you make the best brownies ever.”

Her mother laughed. “Thank you, love.
Did I tell you I sent some to Mitch?”

Lainy started. “No, you didn’t. He’ll
love them.”

“
I just hope they don’t
melt.”

“
Mom, I’m certain that even
if they do, he won’t mind. He seems awfully grateful for anything
we send him.”

“
Quite true,” Aunt Emma
added and Mitch thought he’d send them a thank you, just
because.

“
It’s nice to send things
to people you know will appreciate your efforts,” Grandmom
said.

“
That’s definitely Mitch,”
Lainy said firmly.

“
What’s definitely Mitch?”
a new voice asked and they all watched as Melly and Laurie seated
themselves.

Dory filled them in. “He’s
appreciative of whatever we send him.”

“
You should see the e-mail
he sent Steve, thanking him for the Game Boy. Mitch’s friend Al
also included a thank you, since Mitch won’t steal his any longer.
Steve got the biggest kick out of it. He taped the letters to the
wall by his desk.”

“
Mitch mentioned he asks
Steve for pointers from time to time.” A funny little smile curved
Lainy’s lips. Mitch’s heart twisted.

“
He does. And apparently
Mitch has been giving Stevie some sports tips. He’s doing much
better athletically. I’ve got higher hopes for him this year in
gym,” Laurie commented and Mitch’s cheeks burned. He’d been
communicating with Steve because he’d felt just like the kid, only
with different circumstances.

He hadn’t been the odd one out in his
family, but simply the odd one out in general. The kid with no
family, and no ties of any sort. He couldn’t remember his mother
and didn’t know his father’s name. Most of the kids in his
orphanage remembered parents and even siblings. He didn’t share the
same experiences and always felt different. No kid liked being
different. His heart had gone out to Steve, since Mitch understood,
so he helped.

“
I didn’t know they
e-mailed regularly. What a sweetie.” He liked how Lainy’s eyes lit
up.

“
Yeah, and she’s not a
little bit in love or anything,” Melly said wryly.

Mitch watched in
fascination as pink tinged Lainy’s cheeks. He noticed she wasn’t
wearing her glasses and her eyes seemed brighter yet. He couldn’t
say she looked any better, because any way he saw her, she was
beautiful.
Especially
if she loved him.

Lainy opened her mouth, but an
ear-splitting cry blasted on the air before she could utter
anything.

“
Hello
. Somebody broke something,” Aunt Emma said in calm serenity
and all the women turned in the direction of the sound.

A little boy, probably not older than
five or six came barreling up to the table, and dove into Laurie’s
arms, sobbing like his dog had died.

Lainy set to fixing the toy thrust at
her and before long, there was a line of kids and some adults with
various electronic devices. Mitch thought some of the broken
objects looked beyond redemption. Lainy quietly assessed the
various items, making few comments but seeming to enjoy the
challenges presented to her.

She did stick her tongue out when she
concentrated. Mitch grinned. He figured she was the
type.

And she blushed when her sisters
teased her about being in love with him.

Despite his pain, Mitch began to
whistle, glad to be alive, and determined to make it home that way,
too.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Lainy yawned as she booted up her
computer. She padded into her kitchen, searching for a clean mug
and filled it with coffee. Bentley waited patiently at the door and
she let him out on her way back to the computer.

She clicked on her e-mail icon and
downloaded her messages. Her new firewall seemed to be holding.
She’d noticed some scratches on her doorknob though. Nothing inside
had been rearranged but she now suspected someone else had rifled
her equipment. Her new challenge was to determine if that person
was friend, family, or foe.

She turned her attention to her
messages. And nearly dropped her coffee mug when she saw one from
Mitch. Her heart leapt in her chest as a giddy thrill made her
shiver. She set the mug down with a snap and eagerly clicked on his
e-mail.

And there it was.

A nice long letter from
Mitch. He didn’t blame her for her past relationships. In fact, he
liked her more for having suffered them? She reared back. He said
the men involved were to blame. Lainy blinked.
Really
? Why had they told her it was
her fault? Were her spectacular failures entirely the men’s? Maybe.
She’d have to think about it. All these years she’d blamed herself.
How did one exonerate oneself after so much time had
passed?

The humiliation still had the
influence to embarrass and mortify her. If those experiences
weren’t her fault, why did they still possess power? But Lainy
believed in Mitch more than those creeps from her past. He wouldn’t
lie to her, would he? Why would he have to? She didn’t know, so she
pushed the thoughts aside until she could figure out the
situation.